5. Miscellaneous Questions and Reference to the Text for Answers
1. What was the state of agriculture sector of the Indian economy on the eve of
independence?
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Answers
Explanation:
The Indian economy comprises of all the production activities and distribution activities that relate to people. It also comprises of economic activities which related to people and hence determines their appropriate standard of living. However, in this article, we will discuss the status of the Indian economy on the eve of independence. It is important for every Indian to know that on the eve of our independence, the economy of the country was in a very bad shape. The end of the colonial rule left the nation in bits. We picked it up and placed it in order. This bad condition of the country was the outcome of every policy of the British. Since every policy that they were framing was constantly focusing on favouring their nation, we had very little left towards the end.
Therefore, in 1947, when British gave us back India to us, we took back our torn nation.
INDIAN ECONOMY ON THE EVE OF INDEPENDENCE
During the decades of British colonial rule in India, there were no efforts made to calculate India’s per capital income. Similarly, the British rulers never found it necessary to calculate our National Income or our Gross Domestic Product. Upon gaining independence, some Indian individuals did try to measure India’s incomes. But the attempts tragically failed due to inconsistency, lack of expertise and inaccuracy. But the contributions of VKRV Rao and Dadabai Naoroji was very significant in this field.
Our economy had been a victim of enormous exploitation. Our natural resources, iron ores, gold mines, wealth and manpower was subject to intense exploitation. Due to these atrocities, the Indian economy on the eve of independence showed poor/low economic growth. Immense efforts and knowledge were essential in order to move ahead.Although India was a very independent economy before the British rule, towards the end, it was exhausted. The Indian economy on the eve of independence was struggling to find the path. Since all the policies that the British were framing only promote their interests, we were diverging from prosperity. We were mere raw-material suppliers to the British. They made use of our labour without treating them well. The 200 years of British rule also took away our will to gain knowledge and awareness. Since we were their slaves, we never got the right to proper education. And as a result of these actions, towards the end of their reign, we were illiterate. The Indian economy on the eve of independence was full of people who had absolutely no plan as to how to help the nation.
THE IMPACT ON INDIA’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
It is a known fact that over 70% of India’s National Income comes from its agricultural activities. Back then, before 1947, over 95% of the country’s income came from its agricultural activity. And over 85% of the country’s population lived in villages where livelihood completely depended on agriculture. The Indian economy on the eve of independence with respect to agriculture was disheartening. The most important Indian sector was facing massive stagnation and continuous deterioration.
Hence the resulting situation of the sector was as follows.
Low productivity level. Productivity and output per hectare of land were very low. This situation led to a very low yield of output irrespective of the large cultivation area.
High vulnerability level. Agricultural activities are dependent on climatic factors. Because a poor rainfall generally led to a low output level and high crop failures. And no efforts were made by the British to eradicate irrigation issues. Hence making it vulnerable to external factors.